Friends of Magalies

It is so wonderful to see how the local community did not only make this piece Magalies biosphere accessible to the public but also actively maintain the trails and preserve the area. Trails are not marked so a map is recommended. See All Trails website in this regard. Best undertaken in summer after the rains as veldfires are common in winter. We had some wonderful early winter hikes there as well.

The trails are easy to moderate I would say, be on the lookout for loose rocks on the trail, some places are smooth to walk but others are very rocky so make sure to use proper shoes. Take your dog with, you will encounter many other friendly people with their pets. Be on the lookout for the horses they are not wild and probably will just keep doing whatever they do when you pass them. I did not see any water points so make sure you take water along for both you and your pet. Stay on the trail to preserve the vegetation. How safe is the trail? Well that is a good question, there are people around walking the trails so I would imagine there will be help should you need any. I have not seen any security patrolling the area.

My family, friends and I regularly hike on the Magalies mountain using the entrance right next to John Vorster High School. Imagine our surprise last Saturday 28 Sep 24 to find the mountain on fire. Walking along our regular route became challenging at times as burnt down trees fell across the footpath. We cut our hike shorter because in some places the fire was still actively burning. So today 2 Oct we went back to our favourite hiking trail and found that all trees that fell across the footpath had been cleared and trees that could possibly pose a risk, had been cut down. We saw a very small active fire but it was far from the footpaths. We just want to thank Friends of Magalies for their constant hard work on the mountain to keep it safe for nature lovers like us. Please keep up the good work

Great spot for walking, trail running, cycling. It doesn't take a lot of effort or time to get high up enough to get a great view over Pretoria. There are plenty of trails, and at the entrance next to John Vorster high school you'll find a trail map - there are loop trails as well as point to point, with varying lengths and difficulty. Dog friendly, and you'll occasionally see horses roaming around.

The hiking trail is moderate but could be demanding because it is not well-marked, and there are stones on the path. But I enjoyed my hike here and would come back again. Entrance is free, and you also get a nice view of Pretoria

No admission fee and a friendly, safe walking environment. This walk offers a great view over Pretoria suburbs and the city centre. The route is relatively easy, though it's best to wear sturdy walking shoes, not open sandals. After the recent rains, the area is green and grass is long in places. Now and again your path might even cross with a horse or two, as there are stables nearby. Come on a Saturday morning, winter walks depart at 7:30, and in summer the group departs at 7. The meeting point is at the Respek Coffee Shop. The gate is locked from 6pm to 6am in the morning, so there are no strangers sleeping in the area. Recommended for the fit (who can even run or cycle here) and not so fit!

Awesome trails to walk. From beginner to intermediate route. Did it with the whole family. Trails could do with better markings though. Some degree of neglect.